Sunday 1st December, 2024
Liverpool @ 23/20
Manchester City @ 11/5
Draw @ 11/4
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A novelty country song that became an unexpected global success, It’s Hard To Be Humble was released in 1980 and performed by Mac Davis; who is perhaps better known in the UK as the writer of the Elvis Presley hits In The Ghetto and A Little Less Conversation.
Another person famed for his winning, impactful hits is Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has wrestled with the concept of being humble in recent weeks too – a period that began when he, ironically and rather aggressively, advised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to ‘stay humble’ after the final whistle of their fractious encounter in late September.
Haaland and Manchester City still picked up Premier League wins through October – against Fulham, Wolves, and Southampton – though they were of a surprisingly sluggish variety. And the expected uptick in performance levels has manifestly failed to transpire in November, where all three top-flight fixtures have ended in defeat.
City have also failed to win in other competitions this month, and Tuesday night’s home draw against Feyenoord highlighted a new, alarming crack in their hitherto impregnable sky-blue facade. Although Haaland was back among the goals, a late defensive capitulation wrenched a 3-3 draw from the jaws of almost certain victory.
A humbling noodle-scratcher for Pep Guardiola, then, who could use a nice, light match-up against some supine whipping boys to restore that old pomp and confidence. But, alas, he isn’t going to get one…
Are they just missing Rodri? Are they simply a tired, ageing squad?
Liverpool v Manchester City is a 4pm kick-off on Sunday. It’s Premier League #1 v #2 going into Gameweek 13; it’s Salah v Haaland. It’s a proper box office main event – a ‘Humble in the Jungle’, if you will.
While Manchester City ponder the root cause of their present woes – are they just missing Rodri? Are they simply a tired, aging squad? – Liverpool are making serene progress in all directions. As well as an 8-point lead in the Premier League, they also currently occupy a luxurious penthouse at the summit of the new, 36-team Champions League skyscraper.
Despite their own off-pitch issues – Mo Salah stated he is more ‘out than in’ regarding his future at the club, as his new contract ‘hokey cokey’ drags on – Liverpool were able to dominate Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
Another area of concern – how would they be able to effectively replace injured goalkeeper Alisson? – has been dealt with easily; Caoimhín Kelleher showing that he much more than just an understudy. And the question of who would have to deal with Kylian Mbappé was answered with calm and clarity by Conor Bradley – an old-fashion sliding tackle by the young full-back on the faltering galáctico eliciting one of the biggest cheers of the night.
Recently retired tennis ace, Rafael Nadal – who was at Anfield to watch his beloved Real Madrid taste defeat – was known for being remarkably humble off the court. But he could be a punishing, relentless bully on the court as soon as the umpire declared ‘play’.
It isn’t just hard to be humble whilst being an elite athlete, it is undesirable. It is literally your job to makes your opponents feel humble; you must better them and brutally expose their weaknesses. But after the final whistle blows – when it is game, set, match – then is the time to try and display some humility.
Are we about to witness another humbling experience for Manchester City? One that, despite their reputation as slow starters, would create an alarming gap between themselves and Liverpool? Or will this be the point where the momentum begins to shift? And instead of having to eat another serving of humble pie, that old taste of victory quickly returns to Manchester City palates?
And the footballing weekend is concluded with the manager who is, perhaps, shouldering the most pressure of the whole division. West Ham United travel to Newcastle for some Monday night action – a journey which should give Julen Lopetegui plenty of time to gauge the mass of his burden.
Who, of all these acclaimed football managers, will be able to successfully manage their team as well as their escalating stress levels?
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